World’s Largest Marine Protected Area: The Ross Sea

Earlier this month the international community, including world leaders, activists and scientists, united to protect the Ross Sea in Antarctica!

Published November 16, 2016

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) worked to protect 1.55 million square kilometers of the Ross Sea from human activity. More than 70 percent of the preserved area will be closed to commercial fishing.

The 24 global entities involved in CCAMLR included the United States, Russia and China. This monumental agreement was achieved in part by a century’s worth of data compiled on the Sea. Scientists conveyed the importance of the region and its unique biodiversity. Research shows that the Ross Sea could be the last marine ecosystem untouched by human activity.

There are endless opportunities to study the organisms and animals within the Ross Sea. The next few years of research will give us incredible insight into how marine ecosystems function in their purest form. Now that the region is permanently protected, expect more stories of scientific discovery and preservation to come from the Ross Sea.